SEMA and MAGIC Trade Shows Sign on to Stay at the Las Vegas Convention Center

LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas is the No. 1 trade show destination in North America, and two long-time trade shows who helped Las Vegas garner that title will continue to call it home, generating an estimated $1.4 billion in non-gaming economic impact for Southern Nevada over the life of the new contracts.

SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association and MAGIC, one of the fashion world’s most influential shows, have extended their leases at the Las Vegas Convention Center for five years and three years, respectively. Senior executives from the shows joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) Tuesday to recognize their continued partnerships.

“SEMA and MAGIC committed to Las Vegas in the early years as we were evolving into a meetings and convention destination,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the LVCVA. “We appreciate their long-standing commitment to Las Vegas and their roles in supporting thousands of local jobs and contributing hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy, which helps fund schools, roads and parks.”

SEMA has been held in Las Vegas since 1977 and will continue its premiere automotive specialty product show in Las Vegas through 2017 as part of its contract extension. The show is the largest annual gathering of small business in the country, bringing in 130,000 attendees with each show.

“We are dedicated to delivering high value events to the thousands of businesses that invest in our annual trade event,” said Chris Kersting, president and CEO of SEMA. “Our members have enjoyed a great deal of success as a result of their annual trade show in Las Vegas.”

SEMA is expected to generate a non-gaming economic impact of more than $827 million to the Las Vegas community through the course of its new lease agreement.

Las Vegas has been hosting MAGIC since 1989. Its new lease guarantees the show – which takes place every February and August – will be in the Las Vegas Convention Center through 2015 and is projected to generate a non-gaming economic impact of more than $611 million over the next three years.

“MAGIC is about connection.  Our business is about bringing together our attendees with our exhibitors,” said Tony Calanca, executive vice president of exhibitions for Advanstar, which puts on MAGIC. “Our partnership with Las Vegas allows us to provide the best place to conduct the business of fashion. We’ve enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Las Vegas, and are excited to renew our partnership with the LVCVA, and look forward to the next three years, and beyond.”

While MAGIC was just in Las Vegas for its August show, it will be back in February. The 2012 SEMA Show will be held October 30 – November 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

With approximately 20,000 meetings and conventions held annually in Las Vegas, the convention industry is crucial to Southern Nevada’s economy, supporting 58,000 jobs in the area and contributing more than $6.3 billion to the local economy.  For 18 consecutive years, Trade Show News Network has named Las Vegas the No.1 trade show destination in North America, hosting 55 of the 250 largest trade shows.